If Insanity is Not Appropriate for Obese People....

sugarandspice27
sugarandspice27 Posts: 521 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, so I've been seeing people getting all these amazing results on Insanity but I'm currently well over 100lbs overweight and just beginning my fitness routine. I'm not a COMPLETE beginner, but right now I only walk about 1.5 miles and do some calisthenics at home. I do however, have a very strong mind and I know my body will follow with time. I've read that Insanity is not appropriate for obese people... so what fitness routine would be? I like the idea of a structured plan. Any suggestions that have worked?
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Replies

  • sweetg150
    sweetg150 Posts: 17
    I am going to start the Walking at Home, the 5 miles. I havent gotten it yet, just been walking outside. I did use the biggest loser cardio max and I liked it, never made it past the first level, that was last year.
  • NancyMarie13
    NancyMarie13 Posts: 193 Member
    Bump, wondering the same thing!
  • moran1917
    moran1917 Posts: 1,133 Member
    as a beginner i took on c25k for treadmills. taught me how to run.

    as a beginner strength person i took on 30 day shred. was short workouts with modifications for beginners.

    if you are getting results with insanity and can handle it then keep going!!!
  • MMH86
    MMH86 Posts: 120 Member
    My best friend (who is also on this site) has over 100lbs to lose, in fact, closer to 200, and she's doing Insanity & drinking Body by Vi shakes and she is having all kinds of success! Yes, it will be super hard at first, but you build your way up, just as you would with any workout routine.. : ) Good luck!
  • michellelhartwig
    michellelhartwig Posts: 486 Member
    My response is: do what you feel comfortable with! If you want to try Insanity, do it! I just started Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred today! And I may be too fat to do it, but I'm doing it!!!
  • BreakingOath
    BreakingOath Posts: 193 Member
    If you haven't exercised in a long time a good place to start would be on low impact cardio exercises. If you have access to a gym then use the bike or the elliptical or walk on the treadmill. If you don't then walking outside works just as good. Increase your distance/speed every time you do it and build up to a jog :)

    Eventually, when you feel up to it, you could try a running plan such as the Couch to 5k.
  • lisaishotpink
    lisaishotpink Posts: 124
    I have the Zumba Exhilarate DVD set, I also do Tae Bo DVD workouts (old and new stuff). I have lost weight mixing those with walking and HIIT on my elliptical machine, but I still have about 70-80 pounds to go! The workouts are structured, but not too difficult. Pilates is great too!!
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    I would truly recommend Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. It's a wonderful starting point. Each time I did it I felt stronger, could push a little harder and began to know my body could work hard. I loved it. Cycle One is free on YouTube if you'd like to test it out before you bought the system. Good luck!
  • BreakingOath
    BreakingOath Posts: 193 Member
    My best friend (who is also on this site) has over 100lbs to lose, in fact, closer to 200, and she's doing Insanity & drinking Body by Vi shakes and she is having all kinds of success! Yes, it will be super hard at first, but you build your way up, just as you would with any workout routine.. : ) Good luck!

    eh. Body bi vi...don't get me started lol.
  • lorihalsted
    lorihalsted Posts: 326 Member
    You do what your body allows and just modify if need be. Bottom line, don't hurt yourself and make it impossible for you to exercise at all. Best of luck!
  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    Hi, I started out at 108kgs. I have a muscle disease and can't do a lot of exercise, so I have just been walking on the treadmill mostly. I have started with weights and bumping up the incline and pace doing interval on the treadmilll.
  • dianacannon89
    dianacannon89 Posts: 235 Member
    I started biking fell in love with that, I do 30 day shred, started with C25K and could run my farthest 30 secs and now can run for almost 2 min straight, I Zumba but most importantly I lift heavy weights!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    when i first did insanity i was also like 100 pounds overweight. all that jumping was really hard on my ankles and knees.

    i ended up switching to more low impact exercises like running in the pool, bike, walking, elliptical. i also did HIIT and interval training as much as I could.

    Strength training is also useful.

    I'll try insanity again when I'm 20 pounds out
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
    Oh wow, it isn't? O_o I'm technically 100 pounds overweight, and I'VE done some of the video before in my workouts. It's pretty damn hard but how else can you lose the weight? I knew a girl that did it for 1 month initially and lost 20 lbs. She was obese as well.
  • TheCurvyJ
    TheCurvyJ Posts: 43 Member
    I have heard that Supreme 90 is like a precursor to Insanity or P90X.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    If you want to try it, then do it. Listen to your body, modify moves if needed, take breaks, or do it in chunks. There is no reason you can't slowly build into it.

    I would also suggest 30 Day Shred. She suggests modifications. The first day, I had to take multiple breaks, but I got through it. The second day (I do it about every other day), I could do a little more. I admit though, I swear at Jillian! She makes you work and makes you sweat.
  • sugarandspice27
    sugarandspice27 Posts: 521 Member
    I have the Zumba Exhilarate DVD set, I also do Tae Bo DVD workouts (old and new stuff). I have lost weight mixing those with walking and HIIT on my elliptical machine, but I still have about 70-80 pounds to go! The workouts are structured, but not too difficult. Pilates is great too!!

    What is HIIT?
  • 1CALIJIBARO2
    1CALIJIBARO2 Posts: 132
    Great to know that u r ready to kick some *kitten*.....I stared out @272lbs. I was able to walk only 90 seconds on the tread mill...... I did that for several weeks....I started INSANITY on my 3rd week........I did what I could......after 3 weeks I started INSANITY over again and did it @ my pace....what I was not able to to I improvised.....@ 40 days I had lost 38lbs.......REMEMBER @ your own pace & when U r ready to step it up then U go as U see fit.....GOOD LUCK....
  • sandywerks
    sandywerks Posts: 94 Member
    I've done one round of Insanity and I loved it but it was hard on my joints (42, about 25-30lbs to lose) by the last week I really ached. There are no modifications shown, you just do as much of the workout as you can. It is really insane!

    Im now in month 2 of a Chalean Extreme/TuroFire hybrid. Both from Chalene Johnson. In each workout there is always someone demonstrating a low impact version and you just move up to the full moves when you feel ready. TurboFire also just came out with an introductorary prep series which I understand is to ease you into the full workouts. I really like both programs and enjoy the variety of weights and cardio.
  • ashiggins
    ashiggins Posts: 144 Member
    I would suggest Jillian Michael's body revolution program--it's a 90 day program and the first month is low impact and the following months get progressively more challenging. There is a body revolution group on here--if you would like info from more people who are currently using the program:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/2900-jillian-michaels-body-revolution

    The nice thing is that it's not repetitive, in one week you will have 3 completely different workouts and every 2 weeks those workouts all change.

    Good luck!
  • BreakingOath
    BreakingOath Posts: 193 Member
    Oh wow, it isn't? O_o I'm technically 100 pounds overweight, and I'VE done some of the video before in my workouts. It's pretty damn hard but how else can you lose the weight? I knew a girl that did it for 1 month initially and lost 20 lbs. She was obese as well.

    You can do it but it may be hard on your body. Injuries can be detrimental. Especially at an early stage of a life change :)
  • Charlottejogs
    Charlottejogs Posts: 351 Member
    I think if one is up for it- give it a shot; as long as you are able to go at your own pace and be careful with your body.

    My experience- I started home work out videos when I was within a healthy weight to tone up and loose the last 15 or so. I did JM 30DS and Ripped in 30 and found them useful with some results. I am getting ready to do the second month of Insanity and it has been amazing and better results. That being said it is REALLY hard!!!!!

    I think it depends on your ability to do the best you can without overdoing it. I had some knee pain and it was pretty rough on my feet the first few weeks even being in shape and a long time exerciser...but perhaps I am a pansy:) I struggle sometimes with feeling badly about myself for not being better at the workouts- that is a personal thing I struggle with in doing these workouts. If that is something you share in I would start smaller and work up to it. The welcome info with Insanity says if the fit test is intimidating then it may be best to start with something else first; perhaps that would be a good way to decide. Try the fit test and decide. Good luck in your journey either way!
  • stargazer008
    stargazer008 Posts: 531
    Start slow by starting with brisk walking, jogging and then running. After you feel you have gained more strength and lost some weight, then try to get into doing exercise dvds or weight lifting. Then you could try Insanity.

    That's my suggestion and good luck to you :)
  • sugarandspice27
    sugarandspice27 Posts: 521 Member
    I'm over 300lbs and uncomfortable with a lot of jumping and such, not that I can't but I worry about the impact on my joints. I'm sort of clumsy too. I shattered my ankle as a kid doing at cartwheel. So I can only imagine landing wrong and doing some damage with all my extra weight. SO LOW IMPACT is preferred. And also I don't have a gym membership yet so something I could do from home.

    It seems like there are lots of good suggestions for me to look into further.
  • Elise_healthy4life
    Elise_healthy4life Posts: 182 Member
    When I started (when I was over 300) I just started walking and swimming and just kept building up with more hills and longer times now I have been running for five weeks, I also used a Zumba Gamebon the wii and a exercise bike I like to change it up a lot so my body doesn't get comfortable with what I'm doing :)
  • tenunderfour
    tenunderfour Posts: 429 Member
    My cable company offers exercise shows "on demand". I think it is called Exercise TV or something like that. There are LOTS of options there.

    ETA - I'm in very good shape, have run 4 marathons, etc.... and I'm doing Insanity right now. It is definitely an *kitten* kicker!!!
  • MustangCindy67
    MustangCindy67 Posts: 91 Member
    I like Hip Hop Abs and combined it with the Gazelle to lose 65 lbs over 2.5 years. I now have Insanity and it is wicked.... the warm up leaves my mouth dry...:) You do need to start with and add to your exercise according to your limits. Increase your goals evry couple of days and next thing you are getting through a complete workout...the great thing about dvds you can do low impact at any time.....good luck....
  • lisaishotpink
    lisaishotpink Posts: 124
    High Intensity Interval Training. I will sprint for 5 minutes on the elliptical, then do strength training for 5 minutes with resistance bands or weights, then sprint for 5 minutes, then do push ups and crunches for 5, etc. etc. I do an hour total, so 30 minutes total on the elliptical and 30 doing strength and calisthenics.
  • LordBezoar
    LordBezoar Posts: 625 Member
    You can also look into Power 90, that is where DW & I are starting and it has been working out great!

    Just make sure you look at Power 90, NOT P90X--Same people, different program.
  • Cheshire_Kat
    Cheshire_Kat Posts: 69 Member
    Good ideas :) this was really helpful.
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